Rail-joint.



B. WQLBAUPTER.'

BML 30H12?.

Hummm MLB 00T. 20,1907.

Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@E ci B. WOLHAUPTR.

RAIL JOINT.' APPLICATION FILED 00T. 29.151507.

Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

y UNTED STATES' @FFME BENJAMIN WOLHAUPTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE RAL JOINT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RAIL-KOEN@ No. 9os,5eo.

Specification of Lettera Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1908.

Application filed Uctober 29, 1907. Serial No. 399,713.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN VVOLHAUP- TER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, vof which the following is a Specification.

This invention relates to the subject of rail joints particularly of the type embodying a rail supporting base or base plate.

To t-his end the invention has in view the provision of a simple and practical construction of rail joint in which the parts are so related and 'combined as to eifectually secure the same against relative movement, while at the same time maintaining a firm bearing contact between the various members constituting the joint.

A further object iu this connection is to provide a construction wherein the base plate is securely clamped beneathi the rails in such a manner that there is no tendency of the central portion of said plate to spring, or be forced, away from a iirni bearing Contact beneath the rails.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved clamping means for the base plate of the joint, which clamping means are' of a resilient character so as to not only secure the functions above indicated, but also to provide a spring action which is of practical beneit in maintaining the parts lirmlyclamped together. Also, the improved clamping .means are adjustable to compensate for wear or loosening by vibration.

A further general object of the invention is to provide a construction of joint possessing special utility as an insulated rail joint for use in connection with track circuits, and to that end the improvements referred to are intended to eifectually secure the insulation in place and minimize the relative movev ment of the parts to such an extent as to minimize the wear on the insulation.

With these and other objects iii view, which will readily appear to those familiar with the art, the invention consists in the novel construct-ion, combination and arrangement 'of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the suggested embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings, the essential features of the invention are exemplied, and in these drawings:

Figure l is a sectional perspective view of an insulated rail joint embodying the iniprovements claimed herein. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the improved construction of joint illustrating` a inodication' of the clamping engagement between the base clam and base plate. Fig. 3 is a detail sectiona View through a portion of the base plate and the adjacent clamping portion of the clamp, the plane of section being indicated by the line 3-3 on Fig. 2. Fig. l is a detail in perspective of the bottom insulating sheet such as used in the relation shown in Figs. l and 2. two-part or composite bottom filler that may he utilized in a modiiication of the joint. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of joint which embodies the two-part bottoni i'iller shown in Fig. 5.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several iigures of the drawings.

The improved jointcontemplated by the present invention includes in its organization the usual. service rails l and 2. the opposite side anele bars 3--3 and a rail su orting base plate 4. The base plate t subserves the usual functions of a metallic rail supporting base or base plate, and extends the full length of the joint as well as being of a width coextcnsiif'e with the width of the rail base flanges. The side angle hars 3 are arranged in the fishing spaces and are pref` erably of the conventional design so as to have the usual bearing beneath the rail heads and over the rail flanges, hut in addition to these nece. y features of the angle bars, the present invention contemplates designing said bars so as to provide the same at their lower edges with the horizontal offstanding foot flanges 5 projecting beyond the edges of the rail ilanges and disposed above the plane of the bottom faces of the rails. These ott'st-anding foot flanges 5 are preferably formed integrally with the bottom hearing feet o of the angle bars, and are utilized as the supporting members for the upstandiug threaded bolt ends 7 of the clamp yokes 8 which constitute base clamps for forcing the base plate upward under the rail bottom.

ln carrying out the invention, a plurality of the base clamps are usually employed, there being one or` more of such clamps arranged at each side of the joint between the meeting ends of the rails, but irrespective oiE the number of clamps employed and the particular disposition. thereof, the construction and action of each clamp is the same.

lillhile clamps olf 'different specic con tr etion be used for the purposes ot' the present invention, a simple and practical design of clamp is shown in the drawings, in 'which drawings each clamp is illustrated as preferably consisting of the clamp yokes 8 in the iorin of il boltshaving the opposite ter iinal upstanding bolt flanges 7 ret'erred` to and the intermediate or connecting bar 9 which lies transversely beneath the base plate '4e so that the opposite bolt ends 7 will connect 'with the su porting foot llanges 5 of tbe opposite angle mrs. The bolt ends 7 of each clamp yoke extend through bolt openings l0 provided therefor in the sup porting flanges 5, and the upperI extremities of the bolt ends above said lianges receive thereon the clamp nuts il which provide for adjustably securing the clamp yoke to the opposite angle bars and against the base plate 4.

A distinctive characterizing feature of the present invention resides in providing' a clearance between the side edge portions of the base plate and each clamp yoke so that the bolt ends and the adjacent cleared por! tions of the connecting; bar 9 will be permitted to have a vertical spring action, and thereby maintain the parts held by the clamps, under constant spring pressure. Futherinore, the detail referred to causes the central portion l2 of each yoke to act as an intermediate clamping' port-ion which is held under direct clamping pressure against the central part of the base plate between the side edges of the latter. The etl'ect of this is to ellectually force the base plate up under thl rails through the tightening of the bolts ll, and also positively obviating any lendency of' the central portion of the base plate moving away from a1 firm bearing contact beneath the rails.

In the torni of the invention shownin Fig. l, the direct bearing or tule-rum engagement between each clamp yoke and the central portion of the base plate is secured and maintained by providing the connecting bar El oit the yoke with a slight upward bow or arch. The same result is accon'lplishcd by practically a reverse ot this construction, viz: to leave the connecting bar l) ot the yoke substantially straight and formingf the base plate where cachyoke placed, with a transverse retaining' groove 'll having a rased central portion and deepened end portions lfl, ,tbe latter providing lilii;,i1ef:i\.ssa1j,/ clearance lor'libe cnil portions ot the yoke senseo if provide for the spring action and central hearing referred to. l See Fig. 2l v The rail joint proper is completed by a series of the usual joint .bolts lo passed through the regulation bolt holesl in the rail Webs andthe side angle bars. y

lhe joint construction described possesses special utility when employed with insulating means to provide an insulated rail joint. A joint of this character is produced by fitting the joint bolts with any suitable bolt insulation 1.6, and employing the side insuloting sheets l? between the angle bars and rail sides, and the bottoni insulating sheet 18 between the rail bottoms and the base plate Il. fl/ith this arrangement vit is preierable to have the bottom insulatingsheet i8 wider than the rail bases and base rplates and to form in tbeprojeeting side edges of said bottom insulating sheet the keeper notches ll) receiving' the bolt ends T ot' the yokes which therefore act as guards to prevent relative displacenient or movement of the said insulating sheet 18. -Also, the'said bolt ends T are brought as close as practicable to the rail flanges and base plate so as to prevent lateral shitting of the latter.

Instead oi" employing a continuous allinsulating' sheet 18, there'may be employed'y a two-part or composite bottom filler sach as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 ot' the drawings. 'lliis bottom lillcr consists ot' two parts, viz: au insulating' base section ZO and a metallic bearing' plate section 2l, the latter .being arranged beneath the receiving rail in order to `:give a metal support thereto, as may be best seen in Fig. 6 of' 'the drawin s.

To complete the insulation of the joint referred to, there inav be used the conventional insulating end post 22.

Other adaptations and modifications 'ot the invention will be readili7 aooarent with J. 1 1., out lurther description, and it will oe under`- stood that various changes in the forni, pro-5 portion and minor details ot' construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing` any of the advantages oi' the invention.

l' claim:

l. ln a rail lioint, the rails, sidel angle bars, a base-plateA separate from' the angie bars and underlyinw the rail bases, a transversely arranged spring-clamp supported 'troni the lower edge portions ot the opposite angle lbars and having a spring-clamping engagement with the cent-ral part of the base-plaie, and also having a clearance from the edge portions ot' said. plate.

Lf. ln a rail ljoint, the rails, side ru'igle bars bolted to the rails a base-plate separate 'from the angle oars and underlying the rail ba4 and a transversely arraneed llsha ed yoke ai/'ingr bolt ends adpistably connected l i with the lower edge portions of the :mele

bars, and an'intermediat-e clamping portion held upward by spring pressure against an intermediate part of the base-plate.

In a rail joint, the rails, side joint bars, a base plate, insulation for the joint parts including'a bottom insulating sheet arranged between the base plate and the rail bottom,

and a transversely arranged spring U clamp yoke extending beneath the base plate and having bolt ends connected kvwith the joint bars7 said bolt ends being also interlocked with the said insulating sheet.

4,. In a rail joint, 4the rails, side angle bars, a base plate, a tivo-part filler comprising an insulating base the base plate and one rail end, and a metallic bearing plate section interposed besection arranged betweenl tween the base plate and the. other rail end,

and transversely arranged resilient-U-shaped clamping bolts embracing the base plate andi.4

below the line of joint bolts, and aclampingportion held upward by spring against the central lpart of the base plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailiX my signature in the presence of two Witnesses. BENJAMIN WOLHAUPTER. Vitnesses:

E. F. SCHERMERHORN, KATHERINE MCNALLY.

pressure 

